52,000 e-sabong links taken down – CICC

MANILA, Philippines — A total of 52,847 domains and sub-domains linked to e-sabong or online cockfighting have been taken down since 2023, the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center said Wednesday.

CICC director Alvin Navarro admitted during the briefing with the House committee on human rights that new sites spring up rapidly, making the total ban on e-sabong-linked domains and sub-domains a challenge.

The committee met with officials of the CICC, Department of Justice (DOJ), Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to look into the crackdown on illegal e-sabong operations and resolve the so-called missing sabungeros case.

DOJ Assistant Secretary Eliseo Cruz reported that 401 skeletal remains have so far been recovered by the Philippine Coast Guard in 17 different locations since July 10.

Many of the remains were tied with sandbags that served as sinkers.

Cruz noted that the CIDG has filed complaints before the DOJ, including charges of enforced disappearance, multiple counts of kidnapping, serious illegal detention, murder, obstruction of justice, graft, corruption of public officials and violation of the New Philippine Passport Act.

CHR director Jasmin Regino told the panel that the agency conducted a motu proprio investigation into the disappearance of the 34 sabungeros, holding dialogues with families and granting financial assistance.

She said the cases were closed in 2022 due to lack of leads, but were reopened following new developments and the emergence of a whistle-blower.